Academic and Career Exploration
How to Choose a Major
When considering a major, think about what YOU want. This is YOUR choice, and it will initially help determine YOUR path in life. Choosing a major can be a complicated and anxiety-invoking experience, but it doesn’t have to be.
Consider that some students:
- Select a job, career, or industry and then choose the major that will best meet their career goals.
- Select a major because they enjoy it but never intend to use it in a future career. Many jobs are open to students regardless of major. Any major can be a springboard to graduate or professional school.
Tools and strategies to help choose a major:
- Enroll in IDS 106, Career Services’ Career Choice course.
- Review the list of majors at Illinois State online at IllinoisState.edu/Academics, explore major and career options, and learn when and how to apply to a given major.
- Utilize FOCUS 2 Career, an online self-guided career and educational planning tool, to assist you with identifying your interests, values, personality, skills, and leisure activities.
- Network with professors, career and academic advisors, professionals, friends, relatives, and Illinois State alumni to better research careers and majors.
- Visit the Alumni Mentor Network in Hire-A-Redbird to request a Redbird alum to serve as your career mentor.
- If considering graduate school:
- Review the Graduate School Guide, located within the document library in Hire-A-Redbird.
- Attend the Career Services’ Graduate School Series offered each semester to explore if it is the right fit and to review the application process.
- Schedule an appointment with your career advisor using Hire-A-Redbird.
Informational Interviews
While researching major and career information online is a great resource, it will only provide the basics of what you are seeking. When conducting an informational interview, you are not interviewing for a job; rather you are interviewing to gather information. Informational interviews are highly recommended when exploring majors or careers. They can provide firsthand experience from someone in the major, field, or industry you are considering and may greatly assist you with your decision. Making these connections can also be helpful when applying for jobs or searching for professional experiences in your field of interest.
Follow these steps when conducting informational interviews to ensure that you have a positive experience, gain the information you need to make your major or career decision, and help build your professional network.
Step 1:
When looking for a company or professional to contact it is important to use all of your resources. Some prospective resources are professors, co-workers, peers, family and friends, or LinkedIn. Once you have found an interviewee, contact them. Remain professional and clearly describe your goals as well as the medium in which you would like to conduct the interview. Informational interviews can be conducted by email, phone, video conference, or in person. All forms are beneficial. It is simply a matter of what method works best for you and the contact.
Step 2:
Once the interview is set up, it is important to follow through and approach the interview professionally. This includes the way you dress, how prepared you are, and how you carry yourself throughout the process, similar to an actual job interview. Bring questions to show the interviewee that you are interested in their experience and to ensure that your questions and concerns are addressed.
This interview is providing you with more insight on the professional and the individual’s experience within their profession. Your questions need to be from a more professional development standpoint, not about their personal life. Some examples of professionally appropriate questions are:
- What challenges do people in this position or industry face?
- What types of training programs or opportunities exist for new hires?
- Would you describe some typical entry-level positions within the organization or industry?
- What experiences would you recommend a college student seek out to be best prepared for this position or industry?
Step 3:
Be prepared with enough questions to fill the allotted time (25- 30 minutes is recommended). Once the interview is completed, send a thank-you note to make a lasting impression. The note should be professional and specific to the conversation. Handwritten or email notes are more appropriate than a thank-you text, phone call, or voicemail message.
SAMPLE: REQUEST FOR AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
Use this sample as a guide for how to request an informational interview by email or phone:
Dr. Jesse Fell, professor of psychology at Illinois State University, suggested that I contact you. He mentioned that as an alum, you would be in an excellent position to provide information that might assist me in making a career decision. As a psychology student at Illinois State, I am exploring career paths. Counseling, research, and human resources all sound interesting, but I want to enter my final year of schooling with a clear sense of direction. I would like to learn about your personal career path and educational background in the interest of better understanding the day-to-day activities of a counselor. Would you be willing to briefly meet or speak on the phone with me regarding this important matter? Thank you for your time and consideration of my request. (If sent via email, include a salutation [i.e., Dear Mr. Smith] and a valediction [i.e., Sincerely]. Include the courtesy title [i.e., Mr., Mrs., Ms.] if known. If gender is unknown, just address to the individual’s first and last name.)
THE CAREER PROCESS
Career exploration is not always a linear path. It is common for college students to change majors and careers as they reflect on their experiences and interests. Schedule an appointment with your career advisor using Hire-A-Redbird to discuss your options and where you are at in this process.
LAUNCH Your Career
Begin the job search 6-8 months prior to graduation. Meet with a career advisor to discuss the college to career transition.
DISCOVER Yourself
Take the FOCUS 2 assessment to explore occupations that match your career interests.
EXPLORE Major & Career Options
Explore the University's majors and narrow them based upon your FOCUS 2 assessment results to eliminate those that are not a good fit for you.
Conduct informational interviews.
Develop Your VISION
Gain EXPERIENCE
Tailor your résumé based upon research conducted.
Seek out internships, positions of leadership, and part-time employment to enhance your transferable skills.
Conduct a job shadow by spending a day observing a professional where they work.
REFLECT
KEYS TO ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS
The keys to academic and career success will help you unlock your success at Illinois State and in your career. They include academic achievement, transferable skills, experiences and involvement, and networking. Check out these examples for how to explore, expand, execute, and embark on your career regardless of where you are at in the career process.
STAGE 1: EXPLORE
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
- Always strive for academic success.
- Attend and actively participate in classes and get to know your professors.
- Meet with your academic advisor and faculty to discuss major requirements and your academic goals.
- Participate in and contribute to department-based introductory classes.
- Explore your academic and career interests online. Contact Career Services for help.
- Attend available tutoring sessions and workshops as needed.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
- Develop your transferable skills, such as writing, communication, or public speaking. Seek a part-time job, internship or other experiences to build your current skill set.
EXPERIENCES AND INVOLVEMENT
- Explore student organizations, volunteer, and seek leadership or civic engagement opportunities.
- Attend academic, career, and campus events.
NETWORKING
- Conduct an informational interview with professionals in your areas of interest.
STAGE 2: EXPAND
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
- Create an academic plan with your academic advisor and faculty.
- Meet with your career advisor to identify career opportunities that align with your interests.
- Explore options to study abroad.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
- Refine writing, communication, analytical, and other transferable skills through course work and involvement opportunities.
EXPERIENCES AND INVOLVEMENT
- Obtain a leadership role in an organization.
- Attend academic, career, and campus events.
- Apply for internships or micro-internships using Hire-A-Redbird.
STAGE 3: EXECUTE
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
- Inquire about earning academic credit for an internship or research opportunity in your department.
- Evaluate the status of your academic and career plans.
- Ask faculty to serve as references to help meet your career goals.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
- Leverage your acquired writing, communication, analytical, and other transferable skills.
EXPERIENCES AND INVOLVEMENT
- Relate your internship experience to your course work and career preparation.
NETWORKING
- Meet with a career advisor and faculty to discuss job-search strategies.
- Establish a professional social media presence.
- Continue to build your network at academic, career, and campus events.
STAGE 4: EMBARK
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
- Research specific academic and career opportunities (i.e., job search, graduate school, etc.).
- Meet with your career advisor to implement job-search strategies.
- Apply to graduate programs or jobs that align with your goals.
NETWORKING
- Get to know faculty.
- Conduct a job shadow with a professional in your area of interest.
- Create LinkedIn and Hire-A-Redbird profiles; visit Career Services to learn how.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
- Update and finalize your résumé and related professional documents to include your transferable skills.
EXPERIENCES AND INVOLVEMENT
- Attend academic, career, and campus events.
NETWORKING
- Network with faculty.
- Maximize your professional networks (i.e., LinkedIn, professional contacts, etc.).